Battle of Evesham

On 4th August 1265 the army loyal to King Henry III of England (age 57), led by his son the future King Edward I of England (age 26), supported by Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford (age 21), Warin Basingburne and John Giffard 1st Baron Giffard Brimpsfield (age 33) defeated the rebel army of Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester (age 57) at the Battle of Evesham.

Roger Leybourne (age 50) fought and reputedly saved the King's life.

Adam Mohaut rescued the King.

Alan de Plugenet of Kilpec fought for the King.

Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester was killed. Earl of Leicester, Earl Chester forfeit. His son Henry Montfort (age 26) was also killed.

Hugh Despencer (age 41) was killed by Roger Mortimer 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore (age 34). Baron Despencer extinct. It may not have been created as a hereditary barony.

Simon Beauchamp (age 31), Ralph Basset (age 50), William Devereux (age 46), Hugh Troyes, Richard Trussel, Peter Montfort (age 60), William Mandeville, William Crepping, William Birmingham, Guy Balliol and Thomas Astley (age 50) were killed. Henry Hastings (age 30), Humphrey Bohun (age 44), Nicholas Segrave 1st Baron Segrave (age 27), John Vesci, John Fitzjohn and Guy Montfort Count Nola (age 21) were captured.

John Vesci was wounded and taken prisoner.

Lanercost Chronicle. [4th August 1265] At length, the earl (Simon de Montfort), situated with his men in the abbey at Evesham, is preempted by the king’s son (Prince Edward) with his army; and the Earl of Gloucester also arrives with a larger force. Upon learning this, the earl, becoming bolder, confidently leads his army into the field, although he had a wide path of escape on the other side, which he could have taken without shame, especially since his eldest son Simon, with the majority of his reinforcements, was absent. But, as it is said, ‘serving unto death,’ having heard the Mass and received the Eucharist on the day before the Nones of August [4th August 1265], the feast of Saint Justin the Martyr, he inspired his men with these words: "Let us go to die bravely, for here we have eaten breakfast, and in heaven we shall dine." And so they came into the field, and though few, they fought so valiantly against many, that the day would have turned out favorably for them, just as it had in the previous battle, had there not been reserves hidden in ambush, newly sent in. Finally, as the weight of the battle fell heavily upon them, many of the more advanced in age, more noble, and more wise men of England were struck down there: such as Hugh le Despenser, Henry de Hastings, Eustace de Balliol, and many others, not counting the knights, squires, and foot soldiers. About these things, certain marvelous signs are said to have appeared in the sky at that very hour to a holy rector in far-off Wessex, as he was returning home from church after celebrating Mass, concerning which I feel it better to remain silent than to speak rashly. Also, there fell there, before the eyes of his father, a young, untried knight, a chaste youth, Henry, son of Earl Simon: lovely and fair like Jonathan, but more importantly, incomparably devout in faith like David. Because of his mother's sin, it is believed that he was taken early from this world, first suffering the sentence of the curse of Saint Archbishop Edmund. When he was killed, and the news of the event was brought to the father, who was surrounded by hostile knights, through one of the scouts, he, wounded by deep sorrow, said: “By the arm of Saint James, now is the time for us to die.”

Seizing then the hilt of his sword with both hands, and desiring to die bravely like the most valiant of champions, he struck at the twelve standard-bearers who had then surrounded him with such force of spirit, with such power in his aged arms, that, as was openly attested to me by one of those who fought against him, had he had even eight more like himself to aid him, he would have turned all the enemy ranks into shameful flight. At last, unable to prevail against the lone veteran either by strength or by numbers, his enemies, finding the armor on his back exposed, one of their servants drove a dagger into his lower side. Thus, pulled to the ground, one cut off his head, another his hands, another his feet, and another, horrible to say, even mutilated his genitals; by the higher judgment of God, I believe, so that where he had violated the vow of chastity, he would himself be violated, and punished through the very parts by which he had sinned.

He had, long beforehand, as I have heard from trustworthy sources, foretold a kind of prelude or omen of this struggle involving him and his men. For when he had come to England in early youth, knowing no English, and had heard in the court at Westminster the name of the Abbot of Evesham publicly proclaimed by the voice of the herald, and a monk came forward to represent the abbot in defence of his house, he approached the man and asked closely where in the region he dwelled, and inquired whether there was any place among them that in French could be called "the field of God." The man gave answers to each of these questions and added that they had a territory called in English Godeseroft ("God’s field"). At this, Simon’s face brightened and he said, "Believe me, lord, that in the course of time more than seventeen martyrs will be crowned there."

He said this following the custom of his native tongue, which playfully uses the finite to express the infinite. Nevertheless, so that I do not stray from the course of my narration, the principal limbs which I mentioned as having been cut off from so great a man were sent, as a kind of grim gift, to his chief enemies—both men and women—not to be kissed, but to be displayed as a reproach. Yet soon, through terrifying signs shown by them, they came to be held in reverence; for to this day they remain with flesh uncorrupted and emit a fragrant smell. The remaining trunk of his body, however, was carried to the aforementioned abbey and became an object of great veneration and secrecy to the monks there.

Tandem comitem cum suis apud Evesham in abbatia constitutum filius regis cum suo agmime preoccupat; sed et comes Gloverniæ cum ampliori exercitu adventat. Quibus agnitis, comes audacior effectus constanter exercitum educit in campum, cum tamen haberet ex altera parte spatiosum evadendi locum, quod utique fine nota verecundie facere potuisset, quoniam filius ejus Symon primogenitus cum maxima suorum parte auxiliatorum aberat. Sed servens, ut dicitur, ad mortem, audito Officio et accepto viatico, pridie nonas Augusti, die sancti Justini martyris, his verbis suos animavit, "Eamus mori constanter, quoniam hic jentati fumus, et in ccelo manducabimus." Venientes itaque in campum, ita strenue pauci adversum plures pregliati sunt, quod res illo die sicut priori pro voto eis cessisset, nisi essent cunei reservati in latibulis et recentes immissi.

Denique pondere prœlii super ipsos incumbente, prosternuntur ibi multi provectiones, generosiores, ac sapientiores Angliæ; ut Hugo Dispensator, Henricus de Hastynges, Eustacius de Balliolis, et alii quamplures, exceptis militibus, armigeris, et peditibus. De quibus mira quædam dicuntur monstrari eadem hora in firmamento cuidam sancto rectori longe in West Saxonia ab ecclesia sua, peracta missa, domum revertenti, super quibus filere melius sentio quam incaute loqui. Cecidit etiam ibi ante patrem suum impubes miles et innocens virgo Henricus filius comitis Symonis, amabilis et decorus ut Jonathas, sed, quod majus est, fidei devotione incomparabilis ut David; qui ob peccatum matris citius de medio raptus creditur, sententiam primo expertus maledictionis sancti archipresulis Edmundi. Quo extincto, et eventu ad patrem, militibus hostilibus circumdatum, per unum de scalaribus enunciato, ille, alto dolore faucius, "per brachium sancti," inquit, "Jacobi, tunc est tempus nobis mori."

Arrepto itaque gladii sui capulo utrisque pugnis, et ut probatissimus pugil mori fortiter cupiens, in duodecim signiferos, qui eum tunc circumvallaverant, tanto spiritus impetu, tanta vi canitiei, ictus vibrabat, quod, oretenus attestante mihi uno illorum qui adversus eum dimicabant, si octavum sui similem adjutorem habuisset omnia hostilia agmina in ignominiam convertisset. Tandem nec vi nec multitudine adversum solum veteranum prevalentes, armis suis a parte posteriori detectis, sicam ejus fundo servulis manus impressit. Sic extractum e fella solotenus alii capite truncant, alii manus abscidunt, alii pedes, alii, quod dictum horrendum est, etiam virilia amputant; altiori Dei, ut credo, judicio, ut ubi votum continentiæ violaverat violaretur, et per quæ peccaverat per hæe puniretur.

Prædixerat ipse longe ante, sicut a sidedignis accepi, preludium quoddam, sui ac suorum certaminis presagium. Nam cum in Angliam Anglicanæ lingue inscius prima pube venisset, et in loco judicii apud Westmonasterium preconis voce abbatem de Evesham inclamari auscultasset, procedente monacho ut abbatis vicem suæ domus defenderet, accessit ille ad virum cominus, et inquirens in qua parte regionis habitarent sciscitatus est utrumne apud illos aliquis esset locus qui Gallice posset dici, "Dei campus?" Ille ad singula postulata dans responsum, adjecit apud eos esse territorium Anglice dictum—"Godeseroft." Ad quod ille exhilaratus facie, "mihi," inquit, "crede, domine, quod processu temporis ibi coronabuntur plus quam septendecim martyres."

Hoc dixit morem patriote linguæ suæ imitatus, quæ finitum jocaliter pro infinito ponere consuevit. Verumtamen ne ceptum narrationis alveum relinquam, membra quæ supradixi principalia a tanto viro amputata, missa funt loco exennii ad majores suos æmulos, tam viros quam mulieres, non osculanda sed opprobrio ostendenda. Sed cito, signis terribilibus per ea ostensis, venerationi sunt habita; perseverant enim hucusque carne integra, odore aromatica. Truncus autem qui superat corporis in abbatiam supradictam deportatus, magne venerationi et absconsioni ipsis cœnobitis est factus.

Nam reverentiam exigit propter signa miraculorum quibus hucusque potenter refulget; occultationem cogit æmulorum potentia, quæ famam sui et suorum obnubilare studet, licet multi eorum de nocte illuc tendunt peregrinari, de die per suos fatellites vias et calles advenientium faciant prepediri. Vidimus plures viva voce testificari signa sanitatum in se experta; sed et oblationes quotidian et opera fabrice ibi erecte, idem si homines tacuerint per lapides clamare videntur. Supranominati vero nobiles, qui cum comite occubuerunt, et velut excommunicati extra septa cœmiterii tumulati sunt, signis se probant a Deo non reprobari, nec ab hominibus, oratorio super se exstructo, cessant honorari.

Annals of Oseney by Thomas Wykes. [4th August 1265] Meanwhile, the king and the earl, after hearing Mass early in the morning and having eaten only a little, prepared to mount their horses, intending to proceed toward Kenilworth. But as the foremost among them had just left the town, they saw Lord Edward with his army, banners raised, near the town walls, and they reported this to the Earl of Leicester, not without fear. But he, trusting in the valour of his men, encouraged his allies to battle. They immediately armed themselves for war, raised their banners, arranged their ranks for battle, and, lest they appear to flee, marched out from the town to meet the opposing host bravely. Lord Edward, now made more cautious by the shame he had suffered in captivity at Lewes and instructed by bitter experience, shrewdly divided his army into two companies. And so as to encourage the rest to battle, that first line was personally led by the prince himself, an invincible knight and leader, who was determined to bear the first assaults unflinchingly. The Earl of Gloucester, also captain of the said first division, promised steadfast support by his most vigorous valour. Following close behind came the Earl of Leicester, leading the first rank of his own forces. At that moment, on Tuesday, at the first hour, there fell darkness across the entire land, a gloom such as had never been seen in our time, followed by thunder with a terrifying crash and a miraculous downpour of rain, though before and after the whole day the sky remained clear. These signs seemed to indicate, unmistakably, the ominous events about to unfold.

From afar, being unable to see over an intervening hill, a certain man drew his army together in such dense array that they formed a circular mass, intending that by being closely packed together they might more bravely withstand the assaults of their enemies. But Lord Edward, relying on his lion-like boldness and entirely unshaken, with a terrifying blast of trumpets resounding, began to attack this compacted host with military might. As he furiously assailed the front of the closely clustered crowd, suddenly the Earl of Gloucester, accompanied by a valiant retinue in the second division, charged upon the opposite side of the previously mentioned mass. With the flanks of their formations tightly joined, they surrounded the entire army. With both sides fighting fiercely, the enclosed force could not withstand the onslaught of those enclosing them. Their shields were shattered into pieces, the mesh of their mail shredded to bits, and as spears and swords drenched in blood struck them down, they gave way without resistance. And so it happened that those who had previously triumphed in the Battle of Lewes, now experiencing the treacherous reversals of fortune, submitted their necks to their enemies, and nearly all, pierced by hostile blades, met their wretched ends in death. About 160 knights were killed in this battle, and a countless number of other nobles who had not yet received the military girdle (i.e., had not yet been knighted) also perished. Among those who met the fatal end of life in that battle, we have judged it fitting in this little work to record the most famous and distinguished for the knowledge of future generations. The captain of the victorious host was the Earl of Gloucester and those who fought on his side. It should be noted that Lord Henry, King of England, was in the battle on the side of Simon de Montfort, while Lord Edward, the king’s eldest son, was on the side of the Earl of Gloucester, though, it was said, against his father's will. From this moment, the king was restored to the former state of royal power, for he had previously been almost under the custody of the barons.

Note 1. The text here has "After this miserable slaughter, a parliament was convened at Winchester on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary." which appears to be a mistake, referring to an event after the battle.

Porro rex et comes, summo mane audita missa, modicum pransi, processuri versus Kenilleuurthe equos ascendere sunt parati; verum quidem primites egressi de oppido, dominum Edwardum cum suo exercitu vocatis vexillis prope mænia conspexerunt, id ipsum comiti Leycestriæ non sine formidine nunciantes. At ille cum suis confidens virtute sibi cohærentium, complices suos animavit ad prælium. At illi protinus armis se bellicis munientes, erectis vexillis et aciebus ordinatis ad prælium, ne fugere vide[re]ntur, exeuntes de oppido, in occursum adversæ multitudinis viriliter processerunt. Siquidem dominus Edwardus, sola vexatione dante intellectum, ignominia quam ex captivatione Lewensi pertulerat et cautior effectus, sagaciter in duas turmas divisit exercitum, et ut cæteros animaret ad prælium, primam aciem primus ille dux et miles invictissimus strenuissime conducebat, primos insultus inflexibiliter perpessurus; comes quoque Gloucestriæ, aciei supradictæ capitaneus, probitate strenuissima indeficienter sibi subsidia præstiturus. Præcedentem e vestigio comes utique Leycestriæ primam turmam habens cepit, videlicet dicta die Martis hora prima, factæ sunt tenebræ per totam terram, quales nunquam nostris temporibus visæ sunt, et tonitruus sequente ness and thunder mirabili pluviarum inundatione, cum ante et post totam diem maxima esset aeris serenitas, quæ mani festum indicium dare videbantur futurorum.

Post stragem hanc miserabilem statutum est parliamentum chester, apud Wyntoniam in Nativitate beatæ Mariæ, ab his longe prospectans, (nam secundam interjacente quodam, monticulo videre non poterat,) nimia densitate tanquam in forma circulari suum inglomeravit exercitum, ut sibi invicem conglobati imminentes adversariorum insultus possent virilius sustinere. At dominus Edwardus, leonina fretus audacia, trepidationis ignarus, clangore tubarum terribiliter resonante; conglobatam multitudinem militariter cœpit impetere; eo quidem glomeratam multitudinem in fronte violentis motibus impugnante, ecce statim comes Gloucestriæ, aciei secundæ strenua comitiva stipatus, irruens in partem adversam coacervationis prætaxatæ, totum exercitum illum quasi conglutinatis acierum extremitatibus circumcinxit; alternis igitur partibus terribiliter dimicantibus, conclusa multitudo concludentium impetus sustinere non potuit, dum clypeis in frusta concisis, calybrina loricarum textura minutissime lacerata, confodientibus lanceis et gladiis sanguine debriatis, sine resistentia locum daret; unde factum est, ut qui prius in bello Lewensi triumphatores extiterant, tergiversationem fortunæ fallibilem jam perpessi, victores victis colla dedentes, pæne omnes hostili mucrone perfossi, fatales exitus miserabiliter terminarunt. Interfecti fuerant in hoc prælio circiter centum et sexaginta milites, et aliorum nobilium qui nondum militari cingulo decorati fuerant numerus infinitus interiit. Inter eos siquidem qui fatalem vitæ terminum in prælio supradicto fine concluserunt, famosissimos et præcipuos ad notitiam posterorum præsenti opusculo duximus annotandos, capitaneus multitudinis qui victoriam hanc obtinebant, scilicet comite Gloverniæ et his qui ex parte sua fuerant. Et sciendum quod dominus Henricus rex Angliæ fuit in prælio ex parte Symonis comitis, et dominus Edwardus regis primogenitus ex parte comitis Gloverniæ; patre tamen invito ut dicebatur. Ab hac hora dominus rex restitutus est ad pristinum statum regiæ potestatis, quia prius fuit quasi sub custodia baronum.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. So then all were armed and roused for battle for a short time. Even the king himself, who had until now remained in the custody of the earl [Simon de Montfort], was said to have been armed with the earl's own armour. They marched out by their divisions to fight for their country. But before they advanced, the Welsh fled from Earl Simon, and as they crossed the River Dee, many drowned, and the rest were baptized anew.

Then, a fierce battle having been joined, many fell on the earl's side. The king himself was struck in the shoulder and cried out loudly, "I am Henry of Winchester, your king, do not kill me!" For he was a simple man, peaceful, not warlike. Lord Adam de Montault saved him upon hearing this cry. His son [Edward] also rushed to his voice and entrusted him to certain of his knights to guard. Meanwhile, Earl Simon was struck down and killed before Edward had returned. As he stood on foot fighting with his sword, his warhorse having been killed, and as the nobles stood around him with his eldest son Henry, he burst forth with these words to the enemy: "Is there any mercy with you?" One replied, "What mercy is due to a deceiver?" To which he answered, "Then may God have mercy on our souls, since our bodies are in your power." And having said these things, they martyred him, cutting off his limbs and beheading him. In a small patch of ground around him also fell: his eldest son Henry, Lord Hugh le Despenser, Lord Ralph Basset, Lord Thomas de Astley, Lord William de Mandeville, Lord John de Beauchamp, Lord Guy de Balliol, Lord Roger de Roule, and many other nobles along with a great number of commoners. These events took place on the Second Day before the Nones of August [4th August 1265], in the year of the Lord 1265. The battle lasted from about the first hour (dawn) until nearly evening. And they returned with the king thus liberated to Worcester, carrying with them much spoil, and they sent the head of Earl Simon to the wife of Roger de Mortimer at Wigmore.

Armantur ergo omnes et ad prœliandum aliquantisper animantur, sed et ipse rex, qui in custodia comitis usque in præsens remanserat, armis, ut dicitur, comitis armatus est. Processerunt ergo per turmas suas ad pugnandum pro patria, et antequam progressi sunt fugerunt Wallenses a comite Simone et in transeundo flumen Dee multi submersi sunt, et reliqui denuo baptizati:

... conserto itaque gravi prœlio corruerunt multi ex parte comitis, sed et ipse rex percussus in scapula clamavit fortiter, "Ego sum Henricus de Wincestria rex vester, non occidatis me:" erat enim vir simplex, pacificus non bellicosus; salvavit eum in voce hac dominus Adam de Monte-alto, accurrit etiam filius ad vocem patris et eum custodiendum tradidit certis militibus suis: interim vero cecidit et occisus est comes Simon priusquam reverteretur Edwardus, et cum staret pedes pugnans gladio et occiso dextrario circumque stetissent magnates sui cum Henrico primogenito suo, prorupit in hæc verba dicens ad hostes, "Num misericordia aliqua vobiscum est?" et respondit unus, "Quæ misericordia seductori!" et ille, "Misereatur ergo Deus animabus nostris quoniam corpora nostra in voluntate vestra sunt;" et his dictis martyrizaverunt eum, præcisis membris et amputato capite; corrueruntque cum eo in modico terræ spatio Henricus primogenitus ejus, dominus Hugo le Spenser, dominus Radulphus Basset, dominus Thomas de Hestelee, dominus Willelmus de Mandevile," dominus Johannes de Beauchamp, dominus Gwydo de Baylloff, dominus Rogerus de Roule, et multi alii nobiles cum plebe copiosa. Gestaque sunt hæc II nonas Augusti, anno Domini MCCLXV duravitque bellum hoc ab hora quasi prima usque fere vesperam: et reversi sunt cum rege sic liberato usque Wircestriam, portantes secum spolia multa, et caput comitis Simonis mittentes ad uxorem Rogeri de Mortimer apud Wyggemore.

Annals of Six Kings of England by Nicholas Trevet [1258-1328]. On the next day [4th August 1265], Edward approached the town of Evesham from one side, and from the other two sides came the Earl of Gloucester with his battle line, and Roger de Mortimer with his troop, so that the Earl of Leicester, being surrounded on all sides, had no choice but either to surrender voluntarily or to engage in battle with them. On Friday, which fell on the Nones of August¹, both armies met in a spacious field outside the town, where a most severe battle was fought. The earl’s forces began to collapse, and as the weight of the battle bore down upon him, he fell there, slain. In that battle fell twelve bannered knights, namely: Henry his son, Peter de Montfort, Hugh Despenser, Justiciar of England, William de Mandeville, Ralph Basset, Walter de Grepynge, William of York, Robert de Tregoz, Thomas de Hostele, John de Beauchamp, Guy de Balliol, Roger de Roules; and also many of lower rank, in great multitude, especially a vast number of squires, foot soldiers, and most notably the Welsh. Edward, having gained the victory, instructed the monks of that place after the battle to see to it that the bodies of the dead, especially those of higher rank, were buried with proper honour. He was personally present at the funeral of Henry de Montfort, whom his father the king had held at the baptismal font, and whom he himself had lovingly raised from boyhood; and it is said that he even shed tears at his funeral.

Note. A mistake for Tuesday 4th August 1265.

In crastino vero appropinquavit oppido Eveshamiæ ex parte una, venemntque ex duabus partibus aliis comes Gloverniæ cum acie sua, et Rogerus de Mortuo-mari cum sua turma, ita ut comes Leicestriæ undique conclusus necesse habnerit vel se spontanee dedere, vel cum istis prælio decertare. Feria igitur sexta, quæ nouis Augusti contigit, occurrunt sibi ambo exercitus in campo extra oppidum spatioso, ubi gravissimo conserto prælio cœpit pars comitis succumbere, qui, aggravato super eum pondere prælii, ibidem cecidit interfectus. Ceciderunt in ea pugna milites vexilliferi duodecim, videlicet Henricus filius ejus, Petrus de Monte-forti, Hugo de Dispensariis justitiarius Angliæ, Willelmus de Maundevilla, Radulphus Basseth, Walterus de Grepynge, Willelmus de Eboraco, Robertus de Treggoz, Thomas de Hostele, Joannes de Bello-campo, Guido de Balliolo, Rogerus de Roules; alii quoque minoris gradus in inultitudine magna, cum scutiferorum et peditum, et maxime Gallensium, numero excessivo. Edwardus, potitus victoria, monachis illius loci post prselium mandavit, ut corpora defunctorum, et præcipue majoram, decenter humari curarent. Interfuit autem personaliter exequiis Henrici de Monte-forti, quem pater ejus rex de fonte sacro levaverat, et ipse secum nutritum a puero familiariter dilexerat; cujus etiam funeri dicitur lacrymas impendisse.

Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester, -1300. [4th August 1265] They committed life and soul to God's grace each one,

[1145] And into the battle rushed with haste their foes among,

And, like good knights, felled them to the ground anon,

That their foes fled soon, thickly, many a one .

Sir Warin of Blasingbourne, when he saw this,

Began forward to prick, and to shout on high,

[1150] "Turn, traitors! turn, and bear in your thoughts,

How vilely at Lewes ye were to ground brought.

Turn again, bethink ye that this power is all ours,

And surely we shall overcome our foes, as if they were nothing!"

Then was the battle fierce on both sides, alas!

[1155] But at the end the weaker were conquered,

And sir Simon was slain, and his men struck to the earth:

Greater murder was there never before in so short a time;

For there was first Simon de Montford slain, alas!

And sir Henry, his son, that so gentle a knight was,

[1160] And sir Hugh the Dispenser, the noble justice,

And sir Peris de Mountfort, that strong was and wise,

Sir William de Verons, and sir Rauf Basset also,

Sir John de Saint John, sir John Dive thereto,

Sir William Trossel, sir Gileberd of Eisnesfelde,

[1165] And many a good man slain in that field .

But among all the rest, the most pitiful thing was this,

That sir Simon, the old man, they dismembered so;

For sir William Mautravers (thanks have he none)

Cut off his feet and hands, and his limbs many a one;

[1150] And what most pity was they left, went so far,

That when his privy members they surely cut off,

And his head they smote off, and to Wigemor it sent,

To dame Maud de Mortimer, who right sorely abused it;

And, although they hacked him limb from limb, he bled not, as was said,

[1175] And the hard hair cloth was the garment nearest his body:

Such was the murder of Evesham (for battle it was none).

And therewith Jesu Christ was very ill pleased,

As He shewed by tokens both terrible and true;

For as it to Himself befel, when He died on the cross,

[1180] There was a great darkness throughout all the world .

Also while the good men at Evesham were slain,

There arose, as in the north-west, a dark storm,

So black, and so sudden, that many were terrified;

And it overcast all the land, so that one might hardly see:

[1185] A more fearful storm than it was might not on the earth be.

A few drops of rain exceeding large there fell .

This token happened in this land, where these men they slew;

And for thirty miles from thence, this beheld Robert,

Who first this book made, and was right sorely afraid.

Life of Saint Loius by William Nangis. [4th August 1295] Edward and the Earl of Gloucester, who knew and understood that Count Simon was without the aid of his son Simon, immediately assembled their army and more boldly advanced against the Count. Their intention was to free King Henry and to capture and kill Count Simon and his sons, as those who were the leaders of evil and disturbers of the realm, so they said. To this, however, Edward did not agree, preferring rather that they be exiled, if such an agreement could be made.

When Count Simon learned the true news that Edward was out of prison, and that he and the Earl of Gloucester had made an alliance together, and that they were coming with all their host against him, he prepared for battle against them. With him were his two sons, Henry and Guy; but they knew nothing of the misfortune that had befallen their brother Simon, whom they were expecting daily, for they greatly trusted in his strength and his support. But when they clearly saw that he would not be coming, Count Simon, seeing his enemies arrayed and advancing toward battle against him, immediately said to his son Henry that he would die that day. When the son heard his father's words, he was moved in his heart and gently said to him: "Sire, go away to save and preserve your life, and I will hold this assault with the help of Our Lord." "Fair son," said the father, "may it never be that in all my life I do such a thing, I who am already old and near the end of my life, descended from such noble lineage, who never fled from battle nor wished to flee; but rather you ought to go and avoid this perilous battle, so that you do not lose the flower of your youth, you who are to be, through your arms, the successor of your father's valor and of his noble lineage."

When the father and the son had thus spoken together, neither was willing to leave the battle. The two armies clashed. But on that day, it happened that all the weight and burden of the battle fell upon Count Simon, who, because of his skill in arms, long practiced and proven, defended himself against his enemies like a tower that could not be damaged. But in the end, because he had few knights and men, the great multitude of his enemies wounded him so that he fell dead to the ground. And thus the valor and chivalry of him, which had been proven in many exploits and conflicts, ended in an honorable death. On the other hand, his son (Henry), who fought as though out of his mind for the death of his father, and who very vigorously withstood the assaults of his enemies, was struck down and finally killed by some who were trying to save him. This death, as it is said, greatly troubled Edward. Guy, the youngest of the brothers, fell among the dead and wounded as though half-dead himself, but was found and healed in a short time, and later took vengeance for the deaths of his relatives on some of their enemies. So out of their minds were Edward's men, and so fiercely did they dismember Simon’s body that they rendered it headless. His body, gathered by the monks of an abbey called Evesham, near which the battle was fought, was brought to their church for burial. At his tomb, as the local people affirm, many suffering from illness received healing, and they proclaim that Christ accepted his death as martyrdom.

Edouars et li cuens de Clocestre qui sorent et entendirent que li cuens Symons estoit sans layde de Symon son fil, assamblerent tantost leur ost et alerent plus seurement encontre le conte: leur entention estoit de délivrer le roy Henri , et de prendre et de occirre le conte Symon et ses enfans, comme cieus qui estoient prince de mal et troubleur dou royaume, si comme il disoient. A ce ne sacordat pas Edouart, ains vouloit miex que il faussent essillé, se il si fussent acordé.

Quant li cuens Symons sot vraies nouvelles que Edouars estoit hors de prison, et li et li contes de Clocestre avoient fait alliance ensamble, et que il venoient a tout leur ost seur li, il sesmut a bataille contre euls, et furent avec li si deux fils Henris et Guys; mais riens ne savoient dou domage Symon leur frère, quil attendoient de jour en jour, pource quil se fioient moult en sa force et en sayde ; mais quant il vidrent bien que il ne vendroit pas , li cuens Symons qui vit ses anemis a bataille rengié et esmeus contre li , si dist tantost a son fil Henri que il mourroit a celle journée. Quant li filz entendi les paroles de son père, si ot pitié a son cuer, et li dit doucement : "Sire, alez vous ent pour sauver et garentir votre vie , et je soutendrai cet assaut a layde de Nostre Segnieur." "Biaux fieux," dist li pères, "ja naviengne que ja jour de ma vie face ceste chose, qui suis ja viens et au terme de ma vie, qui sui de si noble pa« rente descendus, qui onques en bataille ne fui ne no vou fuir; mais tu mieus ten deveroies aler et eschiver ceste périlleuse bataille, que tu ne perdes la fleur de ta jonesse, qui dois estre par armes successeur de la prouesse ton père et de son noble lignage."

Quant li pères et li filz orent ainsi parlé ensamble, ne li uns ne li autres ne sen vausist partir de la bataille. Les II os se ferirent ensamble: mais en celui jour avint que tous li fais et la charge de la bataille chei sus le conte Symons , qui pour la prouesse des armes dont il estoit de lonc temps apris et esprouvés, se deffendoit de ses anemis aussi comme une tour qui ne puet estre domagiee ; mais au dairenier, pource quil ot poi de chevaliers et de gens, la multitude de ses anemis qui trop estoit grans, le navra si que il chei mors a terre ; et ainsi la prouesse et la chevalerie de li , qui en maintes prouesces et en maintes besoignez avoit esté esprouvee, termina par fin honnourable. Dautre part, ses fils qui se cotaibattoit aussi comme hors dou sens pour la mort de son père , et soutenoit trop viguereusement les effors et les assaus de ses anemis, fu abatus, et au darrenier fu occis entre les mains daucuns qui le vouloient sauver; laquele mort, si comme on dit, troubla moult Edouart. Guys, li plus jones des frères, chei entre les mors et les navrés aussi comme demi mors , liquels fu recuellis et garis en briés temps , et venga puis la mort de ses amis en aucuns de ses anemis. Si hors dou sens furent cil de la partie Edouart, et si forment lini laceratuni, acephalum reddiderunt. Cujus corpus monacbi cujusdam abbatiæ quæ vocatur Evecent, juxta quam prœlium commissum est, colligentes, in suam ecclesiam sepeliendum transtulerunt. Ad cujus tumulum, ut affirmant indigenæ, multi languentium sanitatis gratiam consecuti, Christum approbant ejus martyrium acceptasse.